The problem isn't the DC; it's your work hours. Kudos to you for working so hard if that's what you really want to do, but don't blame the city for your difficulty making friends if you're coming home exhausted from work at 10 or 11 every night.

Anonymous wrote:You don't have friends because your job is all-consuming...

+1 You may be subconsciously not wanting friendships by throwing yourself into your work. If you really want friends, you have to make time for them.

Put yourself out there. Do what you are interested in. Your enthusiasm will be infectious and attract others. Have fun, stop trying to make friends, and you'll increase your chances of doing so.

I'm from DC and believe your problem is your current circle tends to attract pretentious people in the first place. People who will ask where you work and/or went to school pretty early on in a conversation. I agree that you need to find some events and head out alone. Kickball, Adult Games Night, or whatever you're interested in. Try another part of town, for starters.

FYI, Washingtonians are actually quite friendly. There are lots of transplants here now who moved to the city for their jobs and you're probably meeting these folks.

Anonymous wrote:
As you get into your thirties and people are getting married and having kids, if you are not married and don't have kids I think it can be pretty difficult to make friends.

Could be worse, you could be married and have kids.

I see as find this more and more, you befriend those who 1) don't have kids 2) aren't married, which means you often start making friends with people younger than your normal peer group. Sometimes that means late nights, other times it means dating younger mates. I like it, then again, I'm not pining to get married like so many are.

OP, how can you say it's "cold"? It's really not. You're working 15 hour days, for Christ's sake! You have to get OUT there and find friends. They are not going to come to you if you have no exposure to the world other than your office and bed. Good luck.